SEND reforms are a chance to change what we mean by ‘standards’ Let’s be clear about what ‘exceptional’ means now. Exceptional is a school where disadvantaged pupils thrive, not just attend
Ofqual must be bolder on digital exams The proposal to limit digital exams to only two subjects per exam board is unduly restrictive
DfE should support struggling private schools to become academies A targeted approach could help provide a high-quality state-funded education to pupils from a wide range of backgrounds
SEND reforms must strengthen legal foundations, not weaken them Ministers themselves acknowledge that families have endured too much for too long. That is precisely why legal safeguards matter
The white paper is ambitious, but its success hinges on the unknown details Parents will need reassurance that tiered support and reforms to EHCPs do not simply become a new set of hoops to jump through
DfE wants to ditch ‘average’ labels for school progress scores The current ‘confidence interval’ ratings can limit understanding of a school’s performance, the government has said
Give heads what they need to make inclusive mainstream work This is not about withdrawing support from children. It’s about changing the way that support is offered
White paper: £1.6bn for mainstream inclusion, £1.8bn for external support But funding has to last three years and it’s unclear what will happen once it runs out
New headteachers to get £15k to work where they’re ‘needed most’ Government will also ‘ensure all schools join high-quality trusts’ and let councils set up chains